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Ethereum Founder Pushes ETH As Cash-Substitute, Can This Drive Price Above $4,000?

by admin May 29, 2025

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Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin has made a case for ETH to be used as a cash substitute amid growing concerns of cash extinction in some Nordic nations. However, Buterin noted what needs to happen before the altcoin can achieve such a level of adoption.

Ethereum Founder Proposes ETH To Replace Cash

In an X post, the Ethereum founder put forward the idea of ETH replacing cash in nations that are adopting a cashless system. This came while he was commenting on how the Nordics are reversing their cashless society initiative because their centralized implementation of the concept is too fragile.

As a result, these countries, led by Sweden, are encouraging citizens to keep and use cash. The Ethereum founder believes that ETH can play a similar role to cash. However, he noted that the altcoin’s ecosystem needs to be resilient and private enough to be able to credibly play this kind of role.

In terms of making the Ethereum network private enough for ETH to achieve this status, Vitalik Buterin discussed the creation of models for fully offline zero-knowledge private transfers. He remarked that they know how to progress with such models, but added that there is the limitation that any solution depends on trusted hardware and post hoc enforcement against double spenders.

The Ethereum founder’s proposal for ETH to replace cash is undoubtedly a huge move, one that could boost the altcoin’s price if it gains such a level of adoption. Crypto analyst Flash recently indicated that the Ethereum price rally to $4,000 has begun, and such a move could be one of the catalysts that propels ETH to such heights.

Meanwhile, crypto analyst Mikybull Crypto has also predicted that the ETH price could rally above $4,000 in this cycle. This came as he outlined between $8,000 and $10,000 as his targets for this cycle, with these price levels marking a new all-time high (ATH) for ETH.

Time For ETH To Shine?

Crypto analyst Titan of Crypto has suggested that it might be time for the Ethereum price to steal the spotlight from the Bitcoin price, with altcoin season on the horizon. He revealed that ETH/BTC is attempting a breakout from a 1-year trendline. The analyst added that the weekly MACD shows bullish momentum.

Source: Titan of Crypto on X

Crypto analyst Rekt Capital noted that Ethereum’s dominance is showcasing initial signs of trying to hold the 9% level as support. He added that if it can do this, then Ethereum may become more market-dominant in June. This indicates that ETH could record a significant rally next month if it holds this support.

Related Reading: Ethereum Surge Above $2,200 Says Bear Market Is Over, Analyst Calls $5,791 ‘Easy’ Target

At the time of writing, the Ethereum price is trading at around $2,629, up almost 2% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

ETH trading at $2,646 on the 1D chart | Source: ETHUSDT on Tradingview.com

Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

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May 29, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Persona 4 Remake Possibly Confirmed By Voice Actor From Original Game

by admin May 29, 2025

Given the success of Persona 3 Reload, a similar remake of Persona 4 would seem like an obvious layup, but developer Atlus and publisher Sega have not announced such a project. However, if a recent post on Bluesky by voice actor Yuri Lowenthal is anything to go by, it sounds like it’s a real thing.

Lowenthal voiced Yosuke Hanamura, one of the main characters in the original Persona 4. Today on Bluesky, Lowenthal posted the following: “And for those who keep asking, no, I will not be returning as Yosuke for the Persona 4 remake. I asked. Maybe I even begged, but they don’t want me to come back.”

It doesn’t sound like Lowenthal is just speculating either. Considering he apparently received a “no” on returning, it seems like the Persona 4 remake is happening… just without him. This is a bummer for Lowenthal and fans of the original game, but not surprising. Atlus and Sega brought on a new voice cast for last year’s Persona 3 remake, Persona 3 Reload.

Game Informer has contacted Sega to ask about Lowenthal’s post and if the rumored Persona 4 remake is real. We will update this story if we learn more.

In the meantime, read Game Informer’s Persona 4 Golden review, then check out our thoughts on Persona 3 Reload. After that, find out what we want in an eventual Persona 6.

Are you sad about Lowenthal seemingly not returning to voice Yosuke? Let us know in the comments below!

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May 29, 2025 0 comments

Predator Connect T7 and its packaging on a wooden table

Product Reviews

Acer Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router: super-fast Wi-Fi 7 router for hardcore gamers

by admin May 29, 2025

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Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router: One-Minute Review

Acer is well-known for its Predator range of gaming PCs and displays, but the company also makes a number of Wi-Fi routers and mesh systems that are designed for gaming as well. There are several models in the Predator range, including some very affordable Wi-Fi 6 routers, but at the top of the range is the blazing fast Predator Connect T7 Mesh Router, which Acer claims can provide ‘wired-level latency’ for serious gamers with lightning fast reflexes, potentially making it one of the best gaming routers money can buy.

Its rigidly rectangular design may not be much to look at, but the T7 provides state-of-the-art Wi-Fi performance, with tri-band Wi-Fi 7 that offers a top speed of 11Gbps. And, as the name suggests, you can buy additional T7 routers and use them together to create a far-reaching mesh wi-fi system for larger homes.

Admittedly, those features will probably be overkill for many people – especially if you’re still using older computers and mobile devices that don’t have full support for Wi-Fi 7 – but the T7 is competitively priced for a high-end router, and will certainly appeal to the hard-core gaming audience.

Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router: Price And Availability

How much does it cost? $329.99/£236.22/AU$699
When is it available? Now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

Tracking down Acer products can sometimes be a little tricky, as it often relies on third-party retailers to stock its products. Customers in the US are fortunate as they can buy the T7 direct from Acer’s own website for $329.99, which is a similar price to Netgear’s Nighthawk RS300 that runs at 9.3GBps.

We were also pleased to find that the T7 doesn’t require an additional subscription for parental controls and security features, so it’s certainly competitively priced for such a high-end model. Customers in the UK, Australia and other regions will have to look around online, with the T7 selling for £236.22/AU$699 on Amazon and other sites.

Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router: Design

(Image credit: Future)

Mini-tower design, available in black or white
2.5Gb Ethernet for broadband connection
2x Gigabit Ethernet for wired (LAN) connections

The T7 has a fairly subdued design for a gaming router. You do get a choice of a black or white for the main casing, and there’s a stylised ‘mask’ LED on the top panel, but this is primarily used to provide status information, and the T7 doesn’t have the over-the-top RGB lighting and effects offered by some of its gaming rivals.

Instead, the T7 opts for a rather staid rectangular obelisk that stands an imposing 212mm high, so you’ll need a shelf or table with quite a bit of room available when you’re setting it up.

One minor oddity is that the On/Off switch is cunningly hidden on the base of the router, while the power connector is more visible on the back panel. The Quickstart guide and the longer PDF manual that we downloaded from Acer’s website both fail to mention this, simply telling you to plug in the power connector and then download the Predator app. That left me wondering why the router wasn’t working when I first plugged it in – until I turned it upside down and found the power switch lurking below.

The back panel isn’t exactly overflowing with other ports and connectors, either. There’s a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port for a high-speed broadband connection, but it’s disappointing that such a high-end router only includes two 1Gb Ethernet ports to provide a wired connection for a PC or games console. There’s a USB-C port on the back as well, which will allow you to connect a hard drive or other storage device to you network. Again, though, this only supports the aging USB 2.0 standard, which is disappointing.

Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router: Features

It’s also slightly irritating that you’re forced to create an account with Acer before you can use the Predator Connect app to get started. However, the app does provide a number of useful features that will appeal to gamers and more experienced users. Many routers aimed at a more general audience will try to keep things simply by merging the router’s different frequency bands into a single network, but the T7 creates three separate networks using the 2.4GHz, 5.0GHz and 6.0GHz bands. This allows you to reserve the high-speed 6.0GHz band for gaming, while you connect other devices to the 2.4GHz or 5.0GHz bands.

There’s a QoS option – quality of service – that allows you to prioritise high-bandwidth tasks such as gaming or streaming video for specific devices. The T7 even provides useful security features and parental controls without requiring an additional subscription as some of its rivals do.

The app is a little jargon-heavy at times, and if you don’t know what ‘band steering’ or ‘NAT acceleration’ mean then you might struggle with the app at times. Acer’s manual also makes the rookie mistake of simply listing features without really explaining how they work, so you will need a bit of network know-how to make the most of the Predator app.

Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router: Performance

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)

Tri-band Wi-Fi 7
Top speed of 11Gbps
QoS to prioritise gaming

Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router: Specifications

Wi-Fi: tri-band Wi-Fi 7 (2.4GHz, 5.0GHz, 6.0GHz)

Wi-Fi Speed: 11Gbps

Ports: 1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN), 2x Gigabit Ethernet (LAN), 1x USB-C (2.0)

Processor: Quad-core ARM Cortex @ 1.5GHz

Memory: 1GB RAM

Storage: 512MB Flash

Dimensions: 212 x 109 x 109mm, 0.9kg

Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router: Benchmarks

Ookla Speed Test – 2.4GHz (download/upload)

Within 5ft, no obstructions: 125Mbps/125Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 125Mbps/125Mbps

20GB Steam Download – 2.4GHz

Within 5ft, no obstructions: 125Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 125Mbps

Ookla Speed Test – 5.0GHz (download/upload)

Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps/150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps/150Mbps

20GB Steam Download – 5.0GHz

Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps

Ookla Speed Test – 6.0GHz (download/upload)

Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps/150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps/150Mbps

20GB Steam Download – 6.0GHz

Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps

The T7 creates three networks on different frequency bands, but with its top speed of 11Gbps it comes as no surprise to find that it walks all over my aging office router even on the slowest 2.4GHz band.

Our office Internet service provides a top speed of 150Mbps, but my normal router can only manage 80Mbps on the 2.4GHz band when running the Ookla speed test even for devices that are close by in the same room as the router.

Steam downloads are even worse with a sustained speed of only 40Mbps. The 5.0GHz band is slightly better but can still only manage 120Mbps on the Ookla speed test, and 100Mbps for Steam downloads. Even worse is the fact that both frequency bands struggle to reach an office at the back of the building, forcing me to use Ethernet cables to provide a wired connection instead.

Unsurprisingly, the T7 takes this in its stride. Its slower 2.4GHz band hits 125Mbps for both Ookla and Steam downloads in both locations, while the 5.0GHz and 6.0GHz bands simply shrug their shoulders and give us a pitying look as they breeze along at the maximum speed of 150Mbps even in our back office deadzone.

Admittedly, the T7’s top speed of 11Gbps will be massive overkill for many homes, but if you’re a keen gamer who wants fast, lag-free Wi-Fi for competitive gaming, then the Predator T7 is hard to beat. Then again, it’s a router that’s not strictly going to be for today’s gaming (or business) market, but for the near future (or enthusiasts) instead. If you want to be on the cutting edge, you can be for a price.

(Image credit: Future)Swipe to scroll horizontallyShould you buy the Predator Connect T7?

Category

Verdict

Score

Value

Wi-Fi 7 routers are still relatively expensive, but the T7 is competitively priced for a high-end tri-band router.

4/5

Design

The design is fairly staid, but we’re more concerned about the limited selection of ports available for wired connections.

3/5

Features

Acer’s app can be a bit full of jargon at times, but its tri-band networking features will appeal to serious gamers.

4/5

Performance

A speed of 11Gbps is completely over-the-top for most users, but it’s ideal for the latest gaming rigs that support Wi-Fi 7.

5/5

Overall

Wired connectivity could be improved, and the Acer app isn’t very user-friendly, but the T7’s Wi-Fi performance is hard to beat, and it won’t break the bank either.

4/5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Predator Connect T7: Also consider

Swipe to scroll horizontallyAcer Predator Connect T7 vs its competition

Router

Acer Predator Connect T7

Netgear Nighthawk RS300

Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98

Price (as reviewed)

$329.99/£236.22/AU$699.00

$329.99/£299.99/AU$1497.00

$749.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,499

Wi-Fi Type

Tri-band Wi-Fi 7

Quad-band Wi-Fi 7

Wi-Fi Speed

11Gbps

9.3Gbps

24.4Gbps

Connectivity

1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN), 2x Gigabit Ethernet (LAN), 1x USB-C (2.0)

1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN), 2x 2.5Gb Ethernet (LAN), 2x Gigabit Ethernet (LAN), 1x USB-A (3.0)

1x 10Gb Ethernet (WAN/LAN), 1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN/LAN), 1x 10Gb Ethernet (LAN), 3x 2.5Gb Ethernet (LAN), 1x USB-A (3.0), 1x USB-A (2.0)

Processor

Quad-core 1.5GHz

Quad-core 2.0GHz

Quad-core 2.6GHz

Memory

1GB RAM

2GB RAM

Storage

512MB Flash

256MB Flash

Dimensions

212 x 109 x 109mm

249 x 150 x 102mm

350 x 350 x 221mm

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May 29, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

MindsEye is a GTA/Cyberpunk-ish game about shooting AI robots, and its co-ceo claims there’s “concerted effort” involving evil bots to make people think it’s rubbish

by admin May 29, 2025

Yesterday, Build A Rocket Boy – the studio helmed by Rockstar North president Leslie Benzies – showed off some gameplay from the GTA-ish, Cyberpunk-ish, FarCry map editor-ish action thriller MindsEye, which is set to let you shoot a bunch of evil AI robots. Now, BARB’s co-ceo has claimed that there’s a real life “concerted effort to trash the game and the studio” going on, involving evil bots.

Yep, he seemingly just suggested these things were the case via some responses to players on the game’s Discord server, as you’d expect an exec to casually do.

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Mark Gerhard, the co-ceo in question, goes by the handle MMG in the server, and was asked during a bit of back and forth about the game with fans: “Do you think that all the people who reacted negatively were financed by someone?” He responded: “100%”

Naturally, folks were a bit taken aback by an exec at a studio seemingly suggesting negative reception for a game had been paid for in some fashion, but Gerhard went on to add: “doesn’t take much to guess who”. A user in the server was quick to comment: “a co-CEO for a studio implying another studio is paying previewers to talk negatively about your game is an absolutely wild comment to make in a public environment in any situation”, to which the exec replied: “Not wild when it’s true…..”

Image credit: VG247

Fans and content creators in the server who’d expressed criticism of MindsEye or Build A Rocket Boy then started to question whether Gerhard might be talking about them, leading the co-ceo to respond to such questions being asked about a user with the handle Cyber Boi.

“Folks I never said Cyber Boi was being paid by anyone,” Gerhard wrote, “I just said that there is a concerted effort by some people that don’t want to see Leslie or Build A Rocket Boy to be successful that are making a concerted effort to trash the game and the studio. Its pretty easy to see the bots and the repeated replies to any content that we put out.”

GTA YouTuber GameRoll then asked him directly: “So just to clarify – you believe that individuals, be it content creators or otherwise, have been paid off to criticise Mindseye?” “No I never said that,” Gerhard responded, “I do KNOW that there are bot farms posting negative comments and dislikes.”

VG247 has reached out to Build A Rocket Boy and MindsEye publisher IO Interactive for comment.

Are you keen to give MindsEye a go when it arrives on June 10? Let us know below!

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May 29, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

One Last Chance at $2

by admin May 29, 2025

Bitcoin’s reversal possibilities
Ethereum gets revenge

With the stakes higher than ever, XRP is balancing on a tightrope. Although its price performance has been volatile recently, the chart shows that the 100 EMA (orange line) is a crucial battleground. Long considered a key indicator of midterm momentum, this moving average is now the pivot that will determine XRP’s future. After a botched breakout attempt, XRP is currently consolidating at $2.27.

Slightly above this zone, the 100 EMA serves as a possible launchpad as well as resistance. The 50 EMA (blue line) is getting closer, which creates the conditions for a possible cross and increases the significance of this level. These moving averages could give XRP new life if they eventually converge and a bullish cross forms. This would be a powerful technical buy signal, a miniature golden cross.

XRP/USDT Chart by TradingView

It will not be a free pass though. If this zone is not held, the bullish scenario is probably invalidated, and a return to the prior support levels around $2 or lower is likely. XRP has been moving in a narrowing triangle structure, a traditional pattern that precedes large swings, so there is a real chance of a breakdown. Since market volume is also relatively low, any notable volatility may occur in sudden spikes.

In the coming days, traders and investors should keep an eye on how XRP responds to these moving averages. In the long run, regaining $2.50 and possibly even $3 would be possible with a clear move above them. A longer struggle to keep its current value, on the other hand, might result from falling below. XRP has one more chance at $2.There is a unique chance for momentum to change from neutral to bullish when the 100 and 50 EMAs converge.

Bitcoin’s reversal possibilities

The leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, is displaying indications of a possible trend reversal, and its recent price action has reached a critical point. Bitcoin, which is currently trading at about $107,000, is engaged in a tense standoff with its local trendline, which has been offering vital support for the past month. The chart shows that with support from the 50 EMA and 100 EMA, Bitcoin has been steadily rising since emerging from its consolidation phase around $96,000.

But as the price tries to hold above this crucial local trendline, the most recent series of daily candles has indicated growing selling pressure. Additionally, volume has been gradually dropping since the last significant push, indicating that sellers are intervening more forcefully and that buyer momentum is ebbing. If the support level breaks, this situation frequently comes before a severe breakdown.

Ethereum gets revenge

As evidenced by the recent price movement, Ethereum has been making a significant resurgence against Bitcoin. For a number of days, the asset has been steadily gaining ground for a clear breakout by consolidating just below the $2,700 mark. Given that ETH has lagged behind Bitcoin in prior rallies, this movement is especially significant. The 100 EMA on the charts shows a blatant conflict between the bulls and the bears. A solid base of support has formed just below this level, which Ethereum has tested several times in the last week.

The volume profile also points to a slow rise in buying interest as ETH keeps eroding this important resistance level. The 200 EMA and the 50 EMA have begun to converge below the current price, which could lead to a golden cross in the medium run. Usually a powerful bullish indicator, this convergence of moving averages suggests a notable price acceleration if ETH can sustain its current course.

FromSoft leans into the nu-metal vibes and goes full Evanescence with the Elden Ring Nightreign launch trailer

by admin May 29, 2025

ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN | Bring Me to Life Trailer – YouTube

Watch On

The FromSoftware aesthetic is best summed up by the famous quote from Dark Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki. When presented with an early, gross and gribbly design for the Undead Dragon in Dark Souls, Miyazaki returned it with the comment that it should be more dignified, saying, “Can’t you instead try to convey the deep sorrow of a magnificent beast doomed to a slow and possibly endless descent into ruin?'”

At some point behind the scenes there must have been a meeting about how to soundtrack the launch trailer for Elden Ring Nightreign. And that meeting ended by deciding that what the majestic ruin of the Lands Between needed was the song you’d hear in a mid-2000s AMV where someone edits all their favorite clips from Berserk together.

Yes, the Elden Ring Nightreign trailer is backed by Bring Me to Life by Evanescence, a slice of crossover nu-metal coming at you direct from 2003. Back then this song was pretty cringeworthy, which is what we said instead of just “cringe” at the time, but like everything you’re embarrassed by, 20 years later you hear it at a retro night and suddenly realize it rules actually.

Circle Freezes $58 Million Worth of USDC in Solana Wallets Tied to Libra Scandal

by admin May 29, 2025

In brief

USDC token accounts tied to the Libra team were frozen by stablecoin issuer, Circle.
The accounts held nearly $58 million worth of USDC, which is now immovable.
The Libra token launch ignited a political scandal which rocked Argentina and the cryptocurrency market in February.

The Libra meme coin scandal, which rocked the cryptocurrency market and global politics earlier this year because of its association with Argentine President Javier Milei, has taken another turn.

USDC accounts belonging to two wallets tied to the Libra meme coin team and token deployer were frozen on Tuesday, locking up nearly $58 million worth of stablecoins on Solana that can no longer be sold or transferred.

The accounts, tagged as frozen on Solana block explorer Solscan, maintain $44.59 million and $13.06 million in USDC, a stablecoin issued by Circle that is pegged to the value of the U.S. dollar.

ALERT: $57M OF USDC ASSOCIATED WITH LIBRA FROZEN BY CIRCLE

Two Libra accounts have just been frozen by Circle, including the Libra deployer wallet.

These accounts contained a combined $57M in USDC which is now immobile. pic.twitter.com/HpmaM5HwVJ

— Arkham (@arkham) May 28, 2025

Because the USDC stablecoin’s minting and issuance is controlled by Circle, the firm is able to freeze or “blacklist” tokens in accordance with its blacklisting policy. Major stablecoin issuers like Circle and Tether have been known to blacklist addresses when connected to major exploits, like the $1.4 billion hack of Bybit back in February.

Circle did not immediately respond to Decrypt’s request for comment. At the moment, it’s unclear who, exactly, requested the freeze, with multiple parties taking to X to claim credit.

Crypto-focused law firm Burwick Law said that the freeze is due to a temporary restraining order issued at its request. Meanwhile, Martin Romeo, a plaintiff in the Argentinian case around the Libra token, famously promoted by President Javier Milei, said the freeze resulted from a request from Argentina’s justice department.

“Yesterday, a federal court in SDNY entered a temporary restraining order at our request, Burwick Law, supported by Tim Treanor, freezing approximately 57.65 million USDC held at Circle, which you can now see confirmed on Solscan,” Max Burwick said in a statement shared with Decrypt. “We’ll return to court on June 9, 2025 for a preliminary injunction hearing to keep those assets frozen through the rest of this litigation.”

Burwick previously filed a class-action suit against Kelsier Ventures and Meteora, including some named executives from the parties, for their respective roles in the Libra token scandal.

The Solana-based Libra token, which President Milei promoted at launch on X in February, quickly shot up to a multi-billion-dollar market cap before plummeting nearly 90% shortly thereafter, leading to accusations of a pump-and-dump scheme as wallets connected to the token cashed out profits.

Later, President Milei was charged with fraud, and the government set up a task force to investigate the matter. That task force was scrapped last week.

On Tuesday, Circle filed for its initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange, targeting a $6.7 billion valuation.

Edited by Andrew Hayward

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May 29, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

EA’s Black Panther game reportedly cancelled and studio closed, resulting in more layoffs

by admin May 29, 2025

EA has reportedly cancelled its single-player Black Panther game and closed the studio behind it, resulting in an unspecified number of layoffs.

EA Entertainment president Laura Miele shared the news in an email to staff seen by IGN, insisting today’s Black Panther cancellation, the closure of Cliffhanger Games, and the resulting job losses – as well the recent cancellation of other projects, including an unannounced Titanfall game at Respawn – would help the publisher “sharpen our focus and put our creative energy behind the most significant growth opportunities.”

EA declined to comment on the number of employees impacted by its latest round of layoffs when approached by IGN (these will reportedly also affect members of the publisher’s mobile and central divisions), but the website says it understands fewer individuals will be affected compared to the 300 job cuts recently made across Respawn and several other teams.

“These decisions are hard,” Miele wrote. “They affect people we’ve worked with, learned from, and shared real moments with. We’re doing everything we can to support them – including finding opportunities within EA, where we’ve had success helping people land in new roles.”

EA announced its Black Panther title back in 2023, confirming it would be handled by its then-new Cliffhanger Games studio in collaboration with Marvel Games. Although few details were shared at the time, it was described as a third-person title set in an “expansive and reactive” version of Wakanda, and still “early in development”. Nothing has been seen of the project since then, but a job listing in 2024 indicated it would be an open-world game.

Black Panther’s cancellation follows EA CEO Andrew Wilson’s comments last year that the publisher would be moving away from “future licensed IP”. And while Miele insisted EA will continue to invest in developer Motive’s Iron Man project and Respawn’s third Star Wars: Jedi game, she suggested the focus will now be on a small number of its own franchises, specifically Battlefield, The Sims, Skate, and Apex Legends. That’s in addition to Bioware’s next Mass Effect.

Notably, EA also recently announced it was ending its licensing partnership with the World Rally Championship and “pausing development” on all future rally games – a move which resulted in an undisclosed number of additional layoffs at Codemasters.

A second Black Panther project – publisher Skydance Games’ Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, which is being penned by Uncharted writer Amy Hennig – was recently delayed into next year.

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May 29, 2025 0 comments

Vice Undercover - a retro computer interface for solving a crime

Product Reviews

This narrative thriller takes place in a fictional ’80s OS, and the devs obsessed over keeping just the right amount of old school jank: ‘We did retain the dial-up modem’

by admin May 29, 2025

Few games commit to building an alternate reality like Vice Undercover. Much of the game is played on the fictitious Amigo OS, an amalgam of Windows 3.1 and early Apple operating systems with a dozen built-in applications, a boxy media player, and even a persistent Clippy pastiche with all sorts of eager advice for you. But this isn’t a starry-eyed trip down memory lane—it’s a “narco-thriller” where you poke around in drug cartel communications, careful not to get caught.

“Paranoia is one of the core emotions we were going for. That fear of being caught, the moral ambiguity of what you’re doing, and sort of questioning what is right and wrong when you’re combating something like this,” said Cos Lazouras, co-CEO of indie dev Ancient Machine, in an interview with PC Gamer. “That kind of thing is part and parcel with the core of the gameplay.”

In Vice, which takes place in 1980s Miami, you play as an undercover cop with an hour a day to access a cartel-run computer. It looks to be informed by synthwave and neo-noir as much as it is by actual history, and Lazouras said that’s no mistake; there are plenty of treats for web historians and true crime buffs alike.

There’s a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game coming to Meta Quest 3 and SteamVR

by admin May 29, 2025

The heroes in a half shell are back, and this time they’re pressing right up against your eyeballs. That’s thanks to their debut VR outing, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City, which is coming to Meta Quest 3 and SteamVR sometime next year.

Empire City is the work of Cortopia Studios – which co-developed last year’s well-received gladiatorial bludgeon-’em-up Gorn 2 – and follows Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo in an action-adventure set on (and presumably under) the Foot Clan-infested streets of New York City following Shredder’s demise.

It’s an adventure described as “equal parts hard-hitting combat and an exploration of the bonds of brotherhood”, and there’s talk of “fluid parkour” as players – and up to three friends – scale the urban landscape. Fan-favourite villains are also promised, all readying for a walloping – in battles built around strikes and blocks – with each turtle’s signature weapon.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City announcement trailer.Watch on YouTube

And that, apart from confirmation The Last Ronin author Tom Waltz is saving as narrative consultant, is about all we know. The teaser trailer above isn’t much more informative, but you’ll find a handful of screenshots over on Steam. Expect more details in the run up to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City’s Steam VR and Meta Quest release in 2026.

It’s been busy few years for the Turtles, of course; following 2022’s brilliant beat-’em-up Shredder’s Revenge and acclaimed 2023 movie outing Mutant Mayhem, last year brought the fairly middling Mutants Unleashed and rogue-like Splintered Fate. Strange Scaffold took on the series earlier this month, nudging it into turn-based strategy territory with Tactical Takedown, and it’s already been confirmed more games – including the God of War-inspired The Last Ronin – are on the way. As a scaly green youth once put it, “Totally tubular, dude!”

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May 29, 2025 0 comments